Congress completed the month's last must-do business late in the evening of September 28, approving a stopgap appropriations bill that avoids a government shutdown by extending FY16 funding levels for most departments and agencies through December 9. The bill also includes $1.1 billion to fight the Zika virus and $500 million to respond to flooding in Louisiana.
Passing the spending bill allowed members of the House and Senate to return to their districts to campaign ahead of the November elections. Congress is not scheduled to convene again until November 14, after voters have decided on a new president.